Apparel supporter



Oct. 28, 1941. R. J. HODGE 2,260,178, y APPAREL SUPPORTER Filed Nov. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l JWM oct. 2s, 194.1. R. JX. HODGE 2,260,178 l APPAREILA SUPPORTER Filed Nov. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Patented Cet. 28K, 1941 [erwislThe American` Buckle Company,' West Haven;I i

s claims. l(ci. 24M- isi l ,i This inventionv relates toimprovements insup- Apori'ersior apparel',"and is particularly adapted foruse on overal1s-su'spenders,'and may be used ori any apparel where .it is desired -to have a supporting device engageable with and disengageable from an engaging-member, such as a button or `the like. f One object of 'this invention is to provide an improved retaining or supporting device which may be readily engaged with or disengaged from an engaging-member such, for example, as a button or the like, but which will be less likely to become accidentally disengaged from the engaging-member. Y

Another object of this invention is to provide an'v improved retaining or supporting device which can be readily manufactured at low cost and which is of substantially-rigid, durable construction not readily damaged by laundering operations.

With the above and other objects in View, as `will appear to those skilled in the art from the 'present disclosure,V this invention includesr all "features inthe said disclosure whichgare novel 'over the prior art.l Y'

In the4 accompanying drawings forming part fof the present disclosure, in which certain ways of carrying out the invention are shown for illustrative purposes: l Fig. 1 is a front view illustratingone embodiment of the invention;

Fig'. 2 vis a side view of Fig. 1;` Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional enlarged view on line 3-3 ofFig.1;` f

Fig. 4yis a front. view on an enlarged scale similar to`Fig.`"'1 but illustrating the retainingand engaging-members in'partly-disengaged positioni I Figg'is. a cross-sectional View online 5-5 of1ig.4,';""yvv i Fig. 'isja'front view similar to Fig. 4 but with the engaging-member or button being engaged withor ldisengaged'from the retainingmember by a somewhat different mode of procedure; n 'Fig. 7 ris aperspective view. of the retainingmemberv per se Fig; 8 is a'front view of a modied form of retaining-member; "i ,'Fig. 9is another modified form of retaining- 'member in thefform jof a buckle made. of sheetmetal;4

Fig. v10 is a rear' view of Fig. 9; l

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view on line Irl-,ll ofFig.-9; l 412 is a'lorizontal sectional view on line {2-.l2 ofl Fig. 9;. f fjFigjis isa front View similar to Fig. 9 or anotlieimgdifiedj form .of retaining-melillaer;A "`Fig'.""l4"is"aperspectiveview similar to Fig.` 7

- of another `modification of the form of retainingmember shown in Fig. 'Hand Fig. 15'1is a perspective viewsimilar 'to' Fig. 14

of Vstill another modifiedform of retaining-member.l .i

In the'description and claims, the various parts and steps are identified by speciiic names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as 4the prior art will permit.

In carrying out theinventionin the way illustrated-in Figs. lto 'I of the drawings, an apparelsupporter or retaining-device 20 is illustrated as applied to a strap 2| 'of overalls-Suspenders, -for detachable connection with an engaging-member `22 inthe form of a button `secured to the bib 23 of 5the-overa1ls.' The retaining-device 20 includes a frame-portion 24 which includes the upper lframe-bar 25 supported in theVv loop of the strap 2|, and'lower frame-bar portions 26, 21 which are integral? with the depending retaining-member or retaining-loop 28 'provided'with a retaining-opening 29 which is provided with a mouth 30 formed with guide-lips 3|,"32 which are reversely inclined 'oroppositely inclined" to `the general plane of the retaining-member 28.

` The engaging-member or button 22 Ais secured on the overalls-bib by any suitable means such, for example, as by "a usual form of lfastening means in the form of a rivet-like member 33. The button 22includes a head 34 anda shank 35.

The" particular form of retaining-device 20 shown in Figs. 1 to 7 is formed Aof a wire having 3| and 3,2 andthe amount of opposite deflection v or inclination ofthe lips from the general plane of the retaining-member are such, that in order to detach the retaining-member 20 from th'eengaging-member 22, or, in order to permit of `a simpler word description, to detach the engaging-member or ,button 22 from the retainingmember 20, `the button 22 is rst moved upward and to the right relatively to about 'the lwidest portion of the opening 29 with the shank 35 against the right edge of the opening, whereupon the button 22 is tilted about an upstanding orvertical axis (Figs. 4 and 5) which permits the left edge-portion of the head 34 of the button 22 to swing past the left side of the opening 29,

carry the button-head out of the opening 29 to thus detach it from the retaining-member by removing it entirely away from the opening 29. In order to againengage the parts together, the reverse of the procedure which has just beenv described is gone through to again bring the head 34 into position through the opening 29 and' finally with the shank 35 resting in the position shown in Fig. 1. n

Instead of disengaging or engagingi'the'parts in the manner which has just been described',zthe j ing it from, the retaining-opening 4| is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. "13, the retaining-device 38a and its mode of use is similar to the one illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, differing therefrom mainly in the opening 4Ia which has no oppositely-deflected lips, the enmode of procedure can be formed somewhatdifl ferently. Thus, after the head'34 has'beentilted to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, instead of moving the head toward the left of Fig. 1', it can be moved almost vertically upward to bringr an edge-portion of the head.34 .between the 'oppositely-inclined lips 3| and 32, asillustrated in Fig. 6, after whichmovement of the head to the left will entirely detach it from the opening' 29.. And, similarly, the members can be engaged by the reverse of the operation just described for disengaging the member.

Attention is called to the fact that themouth formed by the lips 3 Ir @andY 32 isnarrower than the diameter of the shank so that thelatter cannot pass upward through the mouth 30. This is important in order to prevent the accidental disengagement of theY parts while they are being Worn. Attention is also called'ito the fact `that the Vertical or upstanding-length of the retaining-opening 29 is preferably less than 1?/2 times the corresponding length of the head 34, and still more preferably, is .only slightly longer rthan the length of the head, in order to further minimiZe the danger of accidental.disengagementof the parts.

The oppositely-deflected or -inclined guidelips 3l and 32 facilitate the ready insertion of the button-head and the ready removal .thereof when it is definitely desired or intended to bring about `this procedure, the edge portions of. the oppositely-deflected guide-lips 3l and 32-denitely serving to guide the opposite faces of the `edge portion of the button-head 34 in its operation of being engaged with or disengaged from the retaining-device V20.

In the form of the inventionillustrated in Fig. 8, the construction is-similartothat shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, with theprincipal exception that the form of the retaining-opening 29a of the retaining-device 20a is of different lshape due mainly to there being a disengagement-inhibiting projection 31 which aids in inhibiting the'accidental disengagement of the button-headfrom the retaining-member or -loop 28u.. The shank of .a button engaged with the loop 28a normally rests at the lower end of the loop, vand whennthe button. is being disengaged from theloop the shank of .the button is moved .upward tothe right to bring it against `the right side of the loop before tilting it about an upstanding axis preparatory to moving `the button out of the retainingopening 23a. ofthe loop. Y v

In the form of the invention illustrated .in Figs. 9 to v12 inclusive, the retaining-deviceY 38 is formed of sheet metal in .the form of what is known as la buckle having thepluralityof strapopenings 39. The depending retaining-member 4D has a retaining-hole or -opening 4| with a disengagement-inhibiting projectionV 42 .and withguide-lips 43 and 44 whichiare oppositely inclined or deflected to the general plane of the retaining-member. The mode of engaging an engaging-member or `button with, .and .disengagr tire edge portion of' the depending retainingmember 40a adjacent the edge of the opening 4|a being inthe plane of the main central part of the depending sheet metal retaining-member 40a.

The modified .form of retaining-device illustrated in Fig. 14 is substantially the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive with the exception that the lip 45 is not deflected, while the lip 46 Yis downwardly deected. The. modified form of retaining-device shown in Fig. 15 is very similar to :that shown in Fig. 14 except vthat the lip 41 is deflected upwardly While vthelip 48 is not deflected at all. The mode of engaging either of these retaining-members shown in Figs. 14 and 15 with an engaging-memberor disengaging it from an engaging-member is essentially the same as has been set forth concerning the construction shown and described concerning Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive.

In the case of all of the forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thevretaining-opening preferably has a vertical length of less than 11/2 times the vertical length of the head of the engaging-member and preferably is only .slightly more than the vertical length of the head of the engaging-member in order that the head shall have just sufcient room to be readily .disengaged `from or engaged with the retainingmember-subsequent to the tilting action about an upstanding axis which has been previously described. It will also be observed that it is impossible for the shank of the button or engagingmember to become disengaged accidentally from the engaging-member by the shank passing upwardly throughithe mouth or throat of the retaining-member in those forms of the invention where there is la mouth or throat, and, of course, where there is no mouth or throat, as in the .case of the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, the shank cannot become disengaged by passing upwardly A.through any mouth.

In engaging or disengaging Vthe parts, 4it is usually more convenient `to manipulate theretaining-device instead of the button, but it requires simpler and less cumbersome language to describe the operation as though the button were the part being manipulated, and therefore in this application, the v-latter mode of description will ordinarily be used. In the claims the term relatively is used to. clearly indicate that it is immaterial as to which part is actually moved.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential Vcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodimentsare, therefore, to be considered .in all .respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within 'the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A new article of manufacture'of the class described for use with an engaging-member havinga head and a shank, comprising: a retainingdevice including a depending retaining-member provided with la retaining-,opening and engageable with and disengageable from an engagingmember having a head and a shank; said retaining-member being constructed and arranged to be disengageable from said engaging-member by tilting said head about an upstanding axis relatively to said retaining-member, and moving said tilted head relatively under a portion of said retaining-member adjacent said opening, and out of said opening; said engaging-member not being disengageable from said retaining-member by an upward movement without the said tilting of said head about said upstanding axis.

2. A new article of manufacture of the class described for use with an engaging-member having a head and a shank, comprising: a retainingdevice including a depending retaining-member provided with a retaining-opening and engageable with and disengageable from an engagingmember having a head and a shank; said retaining-member being constructed and arranged to be disengageable from said engaging-member by tilting said head about an upstanding axis relatively to said retaining-member, and moving said tilted head relatively under a portion of said retaining-member adjacent said opening, and out of said opening; said engaging-member not being disengageable from said retaining-member by an upward movement Without the said tilting of said head about said upstanding axis; and there being a disengagement-inhibiting projection at one side of said opening.

3. A new article of manufacture of the class described for use with an engaging-member having a head and a shank, comprising: a retainingdevice including a depending retaining-member provided With a retaining-opening and engageable with and disengageable from an engagingmember having a head and a shank; said retaining-member being constructed and arranged to be disengageable from said engaging-memberv by tilting said head about an upstanding axis relatively to said retaining-member,v and moving said tilted head relatively under a portion of said retaining-member adjacent said opening, and out of said opening; said engaging-member not being disengageable from said retaining-member by an upward movement without the said tilting of said head about said upstanding axis; and there being a guide-lip at the upper end of said opening inclined to the general plane of said retainingmember.

4. A new article of manufacture of the class described, for use with .an engaging-member having a head and a shank, comprising: a retaining-device including a depending retaining-member provided with a retaining-opening and engageable with and disengageable from an engaging-member having a head and a shank; said retainingmember being constructed and arranged to be disengageable from said engaging-member by tilting said head about an upstanding axis relatively to said retaining-member, and moving said tilted head relatively under a portion of said retaining-member adjacent said opening, and out of said opening; said engaging-member not being disengageable from said retaining-member by an unward movement without the said tilting of said head about said upstanding axis; and there being a pair of spaced-apart guide-lips at the upper end of said opening oppositely inclined to the general plane of said retaining-member.

5. A new article of manufacture of the class described for use with an engaging-member having a head and a shank, comprising: a retainingdevice including a depending retaining-member provided with a retaining-opening and engageable with and disengageable from an engagingmember having a head and a shank; said retaining-member being constructed and arranged to be disengageable from said engaging-member by tilting said head about an upstanding axis relatively to said retaining-member, and moving said tilted head relatively under a portion of said rey 6. A new article of manufacture of the class def scribed for use with an engaging-member having a head and a shank, comprising: a retaining-device including a depending retaining-loop providing a retaining-opening having a mouth; said retaining-loop being engageable with and disengageable from an engaging-member having a head and a shank, `and being constructed and arranged to'be disengageable from said engagingmember by tilting said head about an upstanding axis relatively to said retaining-loop, and

- moving said tilted head relatively under a portion gageable with and disengageable from an engaging-member having a head and a shank, and being constructed ,and arranged to be disengageable from said engaging-member by tilting said head about an upstanding axis relatively to said retaining-loop, and moving said tilted head relatively under a portion of said retaining-loop adjacent said opening, and out of said opening; said shank not being passable between said lips; and

`one of said lips being inclined to the general plane of said retaining-loop to form a guide-lip.

S. A new article of manufacture of the class described for use with an engaging-member having a head and a shank, comprising: a retainingdevice including a depending retaining-loop providing a retaining-opening having a mouth formed With lips; said retaining-loop being en'- gageable with and disengageable from an engaging-member having a head and a shank, and being constructed and arranged to lbe disengageable from said engaging-member by tilting said head about an upstanding axis relatively to said retaining-loop, and moving said tiltedl head relatively under a portion of said retaining-loop adjacent said opening, and out of said' opening; said shank not being passable between said lips; and said lips being oppositely inclined to the general plane ofgsaid retaining-loop to form a pair of guide-lips.

ROBERT J. HODGE. 

